HURRICANE SANDY: Two reported dead in NJ

Bobby Huggins, of Millville, and his cousin, Brian Cuthbert, of Somers Point, see how deep the water is at Bay Avenue and New Jersey Avenue in Somers Point, N.J., on Monday Oct. 29, 2012. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain.(AP Photo/The Press of Atlantic City, Danny Drake) MANDATORY CREDIT

ATLANTIC CITY (AP) — Hurricane Sandy caused massive flooding along New Jersey’s shoreline and knocked out power to more than a million homes and businesses before morphing into a still-dangerous hybrid storm just before it made landfall. The storm cut off Atlantic City and other barrier island communities and stranded many residents who stayed put rather than evacuating, infuriating the governor.

At least two deaths in New Jersey were linked to the storm. Authorities in Morris County said the two people died after a tree fell on their car Monday evening in Mendham Township.

Even before making landfall about 8 p.m. Monday five miles southwest of Atlantic City, the storm had done severe damage, covering most of the city with water, bringing together the bay and Ocean in nearby Longport, and flooding all three roads into and out of Ocean City.

Wind gusts up to 88 mph were reported in Tuckerton in Ocean County, and close to 8 inches of rain had fallen in West Cape May.

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The storm weakened a bit after it hit land, but wind gusts of up to 85 mph were expected along the shore and in inland southern New Jersey until 9 a.m. Tuesday. In inland central and northern parts of the state, gusts of up to 75 mph were forecast. Flooding also remained a danger along the coast and in low-lying areas.

With the storm closing in, Gov. Chris Christie gave a strong rebuke to the people who chose to stay behind and to Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford for allowing citizens to shelter in schools on the barrier island rather than move inland.

Christie, a Republican, called the Democratic mayor, whom he has criticized in the past, “a rogue mayor” who’s “impossible to work with.”

The Press of Atlantic City reported that 135 people were in the city’s shelters by Monday afternoon and an additional 1,800 stayed in high-rise buildings in the city.

By late afternoon, rescue squads stopped trying to get people off flooded barrier islands, including Atlantic City and Ocean City, and turned to hopes that those stuck there would be OK in their homes until morning when crews might be able to reach them.

An evacuation order Sunday helped clear out Atlantic City and shut down its 12 casinos for only the fourth time in the 34 years since gambling halls opened there. The city’s historic boardwalk remained mostly intact Monday, though an old 50-foot section at the north end broke up and washed away. Officials instituted a 6 p.m. curfew.

“It looks like it’s going to be worse than the storm of ‘62, which was monumental,” said Willie Glass, Atlantic City’s public safety director. “Saving lives and making sure everyone is safe is our priority.”

Roads were flooded, making it impossible for most people on the island to get off. City workers used boats to get people out of their homes and onto higher ground. Ambulances staged at the city’s convention center were stranded there because the building was surrounded by water.

The wind sent chunks of billboards flying in Atlantic City, and the storm surge washed away unsecured objects like recycling bins.

All the public schools were closed on Monday and the Christie administration was urging school districts not to open on Tuesday. State offices were to be closed Tuesday for a second day.

Roads in flood-prone areas around the state were closed.

Power was knocked out to more than 1.2 million homes and businesses, including Christie’s home in Mendham, far from the storm’s center. His family was being moved to the governor’s mansion in Princeton.

A 129-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway south of Woodbridge was closed in both directions and public transportation around the state was shut down until further notice.

Until it sped up and approached hours earlier than expected, the storm followed nearly exactly the path forecasters expected days earlier.

President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for the state on Sunday to allow New Jersey to request federal funding and other assistance and expedite repair work.

Cape May antique shop owner Pete Wilson said water crept up 6 inches above the doorsill of his North End Garage shop and he felt certain he was going to suffer a big hit, despite his efforts to protect the property. His shop, located on the bayside of Cape May, serves many of the city’s popular Victorian bed-and-breakfasts.

“I know there is water in there right now,” he said after returning home in nearby Cape May Courthouse. “I am not too happy. I am just going to have to wait, and hopefully clean up.”

Besides water coming through the front door, he also expects sewer backups that will overflow the toilet.

Wilson had taken a truckload of antiques out, including jewelry, books and furniture, and tried to elevate other furniture, but said he knew he would still have losses. “My jewelry cases are going to be toast,” he said.

Flooding has become commonplace for residents of northern New Jersey river communities and they braced for another round. By midday, the Hudson River was overflowing its banks in Hoboken.

Clara Widdison, an exchange student from England who lives in nearby Jersey City, joked about how she got ready for the storm.

“My preparation is I’ve put a bottle of vodka in the bathroom and a package of roasted cashews ... and a heart-shaped pillow,” she said. “In England, we don’t have these extreme types of weather, so that’s why it’s hard for us to take it seriously and it’s all fun and games. But I have a feeling we’re not going to be laughing in another three or four hours.”